An open letter to IAS topper Shah Faesal and his reply

Dear Brother, first of all, I have to congratulate you, not because I am appreciative of what you have done, but because you got what you wanted to achieve.

The killing of your father “just three days before the medical entrance test” must be the single-most defining event of your life, so let me start my argument from that point of departure. Before that, you must have been in possession of various strands of political and ethical narratives, some of which ran towards azadi, some towards the uses and abuses of human rights, some more towards anger on the injustices your fellow Kashmiris were subject to, still others, it is true, towards the greatness of India as a country, its sheer size and diversity, its proud history etc. I can imagine the pain of your father’s death making you sift through these strands and gather the chosen narratives to forge the rope of your ambition. You must have made wishes by tying knots in that rope – one wish, one knot –an old Kashmiri tradition. You reached the first knot even as the rope was being forged when you were selected for MBBS. Now, by topping the Civil Services entrance test of India, you have arrived at the second knot of that rope.

I can only imagine how cathartic the news of your selection must have been to you. I can fathom the overpowering desire to join IAS instead of IFS to “cleanse the system” and “bring peace to Kashmir”. A sublime ‘constructive vengeance’ Freud would be proud to theorize on.

Sorry, Faisal, for giving such a harsh subconscious spin to your dreams. I apologize. Experience has made me bitter. Trust me, I am one with you on the irreplaceable loss of your father, but the fact remains that in Kashmir the fathers killed by the ‘Indian’ side outnumber the fathers killed by the ‘non-Indian’ side by a huge, huge margin. What about the children and dependants of these fathers? Are they wrong in not believing in a system which killed their fathers? Are they wrong in deciding not to cooperate with policies which they know from personal experience are only meant to brutalize and dehumanize? Are they wrong to pick up the stone of their sentiments and throw it at the visible symbols of oppression?

The bureaucrat in you must already say yes to all these questions. But I know, Faisal, that deep down, there is a poet in you. What does he have to say on this matter? These people, whose real or symbolic fathers have been killed by a system deaf to the wishes of the natives, are surprisingly similar to you; capable of falling in love, feeling pain, sympathizing with those in agony (as you as a doctor must have), responding to comments on facebook, seeking information from public offices and so on and so forth. Like you, they have weaknesses and strengths. Their life and opinion is molded primarily by their own experience, as is yours, only that their experience has been the almost opposite of yours. Now the oppressor wants them to forget everything and make peace. Imagine the killers of your father coming to meet and repeating Manto’s words to you: “Sorry, mishtake.” Imagine them trying to recruit you for their activities, thus making you an example others should follow. Imagine the lure of reconciliation without a resolution.

There are also the larger and deeper questions. For example, the contrast between deaths caused by individuals because of reasons which can only be available to individuals but not in pursuit of the stated aims of the ideologies they belong to, and the deaths caused by individuals not out of individual choices but because the system of which they are soldiers survives only through such terminal tactics. Is it just to treat one at par with the other? Oppression has the monstrous quality of seeping into the resistance and reproducing itself on the “other side”. How fair is it then to isolate individual acts of barbarity from their context and history? Unfortunately, the Indian Civil Services entrance test does not require one to read or think along these lines, so you are on your own here, Faisal.

You are an example because the rope of your ambition is long and therefore admirable. But an attempt will be made to craft this rope into a noose to hang the memories and the sentiments of the people; to employ your success in spearing the collective dreams of fellow Kashmiris; to use your story to obliterate history. You want peace, and so does every other Kashmiri, but there is a difference between peace and surrender and we need to delve deeper into this distinction before arriving at conclusions. You “want to set an example”, but young and inexperienced that you are, there is a fear that the example you set may be that of Hamlet.

Before I end, let me share one last concern with you. We are brothers, Faisal, and even though we may sore our throats over who is Cain and who Abel, it would be good to remember that in the fight between the two, only the devil benefits.

An ordinary Kashmiri.

Shah Faesal replies:

Dear Brother Anonymous

Thanks for the letter. But I wish you had written your name at the end. It would have been easy to address you. Never mind. May be you feel safe in the veil of anonymity.

My problem is exactly the opposite. I wish to be anonymous but don’t have the choice. You are speaking from a position. On behalf of Kashmiris. As if I am the ”other”. Going through some of the comments added to the feeling of being an outsider,as if. But here is the catch. While you consider yourselves to be the self-appinted guardians of Kashmir cause, I can not afford to do. I know how mundane and miniscule my mandate is. I can’t afford to sound statesmanly like you, I am not just meant to be. As a civil servant, I have the job well defined.

Brother,it takes courage to stand up and speak. It also takes courage to sit down and listen. I have spoken my heart out and tried to talk about both sides of the coin. Honesty demanded so. My conscience will never allow me to hide the facts just because I don’t want to displease the Big Brother. You should have appreciated that I didn’t speak from a position. I talked about the violence by greens as much as the tyranny of saffron. And even then,if you feel that my story is being used as an argument to obliterate the history, it is unfortunate.
Slip into my shoes,wear my name-tag and then talk to Manu Joseph or anyone else. You will find it very difficult to articulate even your basic understanding of Kashmir. Not because you dont know how to,but because you know the perils of doing that.

I often see US-based or Delhi-based friends romancing the Kashmir narrative in chatrooms but when it comes to doing something about it, they just change the room! I may be wrong but I have the distinction of being with my people, sharing their joys and suffering. My job gives me that privilege. For me its neither about surrender nor compromise. I have always spoken the truth and will continue to do so. Even if it costs me my job. In public life, criticism is like a fertilizer as long as one doesn’t sell out his roots. Don’t go by the hastily made impressions. It will take some more time to understand what do I finally stand for. Till then lets rest our tongues and stop blaming one another. I am not a Chaudhary of India not should you act as a Chaudhary of Kashmir. Let the story unfold. Time will decide, who betrayed and who didn’t.

59 COMMENTS

Awesome reply from Shah Faisal to some coward who’s trying to be “Chaudhary” of Kashmir under the veil of anonymity.. It’s absurd how some loser is trying to say that Faisal’s success will hinder the cause of Kashmir..

@F: You were replying to an Ordinary Kashmiri and unfortunately your words don’t carry the strength to console his wounds. There is always an excuse for the truth and there is always an excuse for that excuse. Ordinary Kashmiri did not wanted to you fight for him but, for yourself. And if you feel that you have been alienated, then certainly you’re one. When a person’s life is on stake, that person can’t let the time decide his fate. Oppressed can’t let the time decide the period of his oppression. He fights now. Or never.

@Salfi : its easy to complain .Anyone can do that and if u really want to help urself stand for it ,find a remedy .Dont think that complaing about anything is equivalent to doing something about it.Faisal did things if not for the whole community then at least for himself .And keeps on reiterating that he will work for ur emancipation ,all he needs is a little support from u people .
I am not part of kashmir but all iknow after watching him is that its not a cakewalk to do things that he did but u could try to imitate and emulate his principles and his affectionate craving towards his work . It cud very well pull people outta their miseries

Both are right…..!annoymous exposes his wounds and F tries to justify his stand on issue….its kinda fertile dialogue but i have heard that those who are powerful should accept responsibility,F has a wider audience n his views matter more then those of an ordinary kashmiri…F has kinda credibility n all the media generated hype n glamour…though i accept he performed a rare feat…but his feat is not going to change anybodys fate nor is it such a great feat that he assumes the role of saviour n lone fighter for kashmiri people…he is just a carrier man…n history doesnt remember carrier men but it remembers the great men……….let a few years pass n he will be part of state machinery which brutilises its own subjects,violates human rights,indulges in fake encounters,loots tax payers money,n kills for no reason……….

Both are right…..!annoymous exposes his wounds and F tries to justify his stand on issue….its kinda fertile dialogue but i have heard that those who are powerful should accept responsibility,F has a wider audience n his views matter more then those of an ordinary kashmiri…F has kinda credibility n all the media generated hype n glamour…though i accept he performed a rare feat…but his feat is not going to change anybodys fate nor is it such a great feat that he assumes the role of saviour n lone fighter for kashmiri people…he is just a carrier man…n history doesnt remember carrier men but it remembers the great men……….let a few years pass n he will be part of state machinery which brutilises its own subjects,violates human rights,indulges in fake encounters,loots tax payers money,n kills for no reason……….wait n watch…..time will decide all…

Both are right…..!annoymous exposes his wounds and F tries to justify his stand on issue….its kinda fertile dialogue but i have heard that those who are powerful should accept responsibility,F has a wider audience n his views matter more then those of an ordinary kashmiri…F has kinda credibility n all the media generated hype n glamour…though i accept he performed a rare feat…but his feat is not going to change anybodys fate nor is it such a great feat that he assumes the role of saviour n lone fighter for kashmiri people…he is just a carrier man…n history doesnt remember carrier men but it remembers the great men……….let a few years pass n he will be part of state machinery which brutilises its own subjects,violates human rights,indulges in fake encounters,loots tax payers money.

F-has cmeup wid a sarcastic snappy reply…. Anonymous is having hone n perfect View points and i agree to it…F says “even if it costs me a job”-WTF dude, u r nw a slave & striver for Endian politicians….u don’t speak at ur own…u shud agree to it, Agree; yes, i had a political background n approach….why to defend…For a common kashmiri like me you are an Indian Pupet..n we don’t need your simulated sympathy!

i guess it would have been the moment to cherish for me when i came to know that some one from kashmir has proved it on ground that kasmiris r not dumb shit, which in reality indian people think of us. but unfortunately, it proved other way. his selection brought more of a bad name to kashmiri cause than boosting it in any aspect. so dear civil servant of india, always remember one thing, ” rebels always do it for cause and people like u r paid for it”.

Shah faesal is pride of India. He showed creditibility in his words. I hav sympathy to a ordinary kasmiri,but F is also victim of circumstances. He did nt chosen wrong way like sum ‘anonymous’ type persons. Problem is nt only in kasmir it is everywhere in India and in whole world also. Are u influence by pak, there is an example of condition their people and ours. Be a part of the system like faesal and make changes for betterment of your people. Otherwise fight for infinite time wid our grt INDIAN govt and give miseries to your people. Choice is yours. We’ll salute always faesal like sons of BHARATMA and disguise afjal like deshdrohies and will kick dem out. JAI HIND

F izz rite it depends on u that what path u selected by getting distracted from problems . great exmple afzal guru was an mbbs student & wanna be ias but ends where , not due to his problems but bcozz of his own thinking and other is dr. f about whom we all know .

F izz right.he set an example for kasmir youth .unfortunately some do not understand his great love for his community..people like F seems a country like guru rabindranath dreams..dear anonymous we indians should leran from our great for fathers like khan abdul gaffar .an eye for eye . . 1 day made all blind. take a lamp to lighten the dark age not stones 2 made a bloodshed.jai hind

Thats fare….At Least Faisal Sab admits his limitations….He surely is an intelligent guy who cracked one of the good exams. His fathers murder is surely a heinous crime. ( perceived by me at this time without any knowledge of past).
The million dollar question is whether a machinery that has been built to cut the greenery, ever feel regret? If yes, whether the regret n remorse of any machine that is gonna cut the trees one day or the other, as it is not up to “it” to refrain from doing so, matter to the tees..
A gun in the hands of a soldier is same as the one in hands of a murderer…..The masters decide the fate of slaves….They decide when n how to use the machinery….Bureaucracy is the machinery n people who r more indulged in it are likely to become more apologetic,secular or sympathetic towards their masters…..I donot blame Faisal for the problem but human nature in itself has a dark side and not everyone can conquer it.

Right sir,time will have to come for deciding,those questions who are not ansered by history,time manufactures answers for them
I have watched your 5 interviews, you are a good speaker and writer.I can dare to compare you with respectable Dr.Kalam if you prove yourself strong

Right sir,time will have to come for deciding,those questions who are not ansered by history,time manufactures answers for them
I have watched your 5 interviews, you are a good speaker and writer.I can dare to compare you with respectable Dr.Kalam if you prove yourself strong
May HE bless you

we have to commend faisals genious brain he did achive it and kept
kashmiri proud but he has done a betrayal with his fist knot
when you enter medical school you keep a promise with the noble
subject even it is not thought to be noble now.
comming to otherside of storey i would encourage our yonger generation try for IAF AND IMS AS there are very few kashmiri
especialy from one majorty cummunity this IAS and KAS is production of british maglmenia which they sowed in india if you go to usa it is not having much relivense i do not want
to discourage my youngers not to try for survval they have to
surrvive as we have been ducked in this unending storm may allah
take us out of it what ever way is best for our children

@Anonymous Dear Friend it must be said you present you case so articulately and emotionally , it’s very obvious one might loose the very sight of truth. However what you do is to present a case , a very emphatic one ,but alas not cleared from the mist of Historic antecedents. You skilfully overlook the fact that the “saffron tyranny” is only a byproduct of of green tyranny or say green propaganda.The seeded misplaced segregationist agenda (which you don’t regret), later which got stoked by the AFSPA.
I regret very much for the lives lost on both sides. This being the elementary miss of your subconscious, you choose to skip the Indian Narrative. You believe what you want to believe and there is the catch.
Try to be impartial and above emotions.

Finally, Pakistan has got a spy in the inner circle of Indian bureaucracy.
Whoa… the nuclear, tactical and strategic secrets of India will be passed to Pakistan in a couple of years and then Pakistan will have a position of strength..whoa..

@Shahrukh Khan I know the Indian secret of making nuclear bomb,please write it dowan and keep it as a secret(Dont even share with north korea or Iran)
1.Indian nuclear bomb is made up of radio active nuclear material
2.When it explodes it sounds like Dhudum…

Now if you keep this first lesson as secret then I will tell you next secret.

well faisal is also one amongst the kashmiris who’s family has bled for taking a stand.Anonymous has given a vent to his feelings by criticising Faisal but why doesn’t he appreciates that at least he his doing things from a different perspective about which people only talks but remains passive….Faisal now being a part of state machinery can give it a positive direction at least!

The reason why the problem goes on in Kashmir, is due to certain issues that all know. The solution to problem is healing as much as possible the wounds caused by the acts of violence, which ever side they may be from…

There are stakeholders in all sides who want the problem to continue so that “they” remain in power and enjoy premier positions. Only when reforms,( religious, regional, financial) come from inside, the problem will get solved. Hope people like shah F can play role in doing this.

He has many times in interviews made clear “Why he is in civil service”. So he has defined his part. How well other people define their ways in kashmir will have impact on their future.

From an outsider looking in, oppression pays more than helping others. The greed that has sunk into the heart of people is like a contagious disease, it spreads in the form of envy. ‘Give them convenience or give them death.’ Now this is a pessimistic outlook of the world, is it the current scenario playing out?

The world is not/cannot be Ideal. Nature in of itself is not fair, evolution the driving force of species is not fair. The cro-magnon of the evolutionary branch are a prime example.

It takes deep introspection, faith, morality, justice, to fight the urges of our inner sanctums with which humanity at present is a condition rather an experience. The human condition must be elevated into the human experience.

The following saying of the Prophet is reported by Abu Huraira: “Three persons shall be questioned first on the day of resurrection. One will be the learned man who would be asked as to what he had done with his learning”. “Day and night,” the learned man will reply “I tried my best to propagate it, O Lord”. “Thou speakest falsely”, God will answer and the angels will also join with him “Thy sole aim was to be called a learned man by the people, and the title was thine”. The second will be the rich man who would be asked about his riches. “Day and night”, the rich man will reply, “I gave it in charity.” “Thou speaker of untruth”, God and his angels will say “Thou wishest to be labelled a generous man, and it was done”. The third will be the martyr who too will be asked about his deed “O Lord”, the martyr will reply, “Thou didst command us to wage Holy war (Jehad), I obeyed thee and fell fighting”. “Thou liest,” God and His angels will answer. “Thy aim was to be trumpeted as a hero and it was done”. “Then,” says Abu Huraira “the Prophet after finishing the sermon pressed me and said: These three would be the first to be thrown into the flames of hell”.

Where ever you try to spew hatred this message will follow it in’Shaa’Allah

The Holy Quran is the most read Text in the world, it is also the most mis-read, i.e people read it without knowledge of the meaning.

If the Holy Quran is read with meaning and understood then In’Shaa’Allah many problems of this world will cease to be.

Currently our ummah is divided and without a clear path. In’Shaa’Allah the ummah will come together soon and lead the way once again.

Nothing escapes aakhira.. we all must atone and face Allah, this is the only truth in the world.

I do not believe in the violent means by which our religion is being labeled, but I do believe in fighting against tyranny. for what good are my legs if I am made to kneel forever.

These attacks against what is being said in the defense of Kashmir & Kashmiris are just that.

One has to also wonder about the timing of this backlash against Kashmiris by the likes of Sanjeev and the many names the person uses to pander. The BJP run on the platform of division, this is what I see these people doing.

My message is clear, a believer (a MUSLIM) until he/she interpret the Holy Quran in full meaning and applies that to their life, we will continue to suffer.

The uneducated and ignorant are easily brainwashed, this enables clerics and muftis to take advantage of a desperate situation.

If only one person reads this and passes it on to others then Sanjeev & the Kind have done us a service since this message has gone through to someone.

Let us thank him/them.

The compulsion to try and get in the last word is well defined in Psychology, known as ‘Takers.’ Islam also prohibits us from trying to get in the last word within an argument.

My aim here is not to get in the last word, rather present the readers with an option.

I want to see highly talented Kashmiri youths making waves in Music, art, IT , sports , modeling and all other constructive activities .. you are NOT a separate nation.. you have been part of legacy called India ..this seems to be more clashing of religions than separatist movement.. see . what Pakistan did in 1989.

1. Jia ul Haq changed the basic history and spreaded “Islam ” kahtare me hai . and sent jehadis to do insurgencies inm Kashmir, pre 1989 – Hindu , Muslim and Sikhs were living peacefully . suddenly what happened in 90’s ? its was canny adventure of Porkistan on the basis of muslim majority etc .

2. Hindu population were targeted.. they were living since ages .. and all hindu ladies ..murdered , raped etc .forced to flee to just make Kashmir as Musalman major state so that plebiscite can be done?

3. when the tourism industry bombed to too much militancy .. Kashmiri’s awake and had had faith in India and 3 govt passed by.

4. Hafeej saeed and LET continue supporting milllitants to de stablise Kashmir once seeing the normalization in valley..

5. India put 1 million force to retaliate and its an answer to 5 lacks Kashmiri fled from there.

Dr Faisal reply to Mr anon was very well written. Mr. Anonymous arguments are also quite fair in his position. I really commend this brilliant young individual who not only topped the civil services but chose not to become any other doctor and make millions in the US. I must say his heart is in the right place and feet are well on the ground.
He chose to stay put in his land and serve his people. Agreed, he cant be a one man army but surely can make some difference. I am not taking sides, but feel the uncharitable remarks some people have made on him need to rethink. What he has achieved is no simple feat, people who have accused him of being just another mouthpiece of Indian government are either jealous of his achievement or feel it is no great shakes.
In this time and age, I am glad young people like him have realised what makes more economic sense, stability or futile and long drawn war.

Words r vain , puny things .. Each one of us go through lot of emotional n intellectual struggle everyday. If only v could b better human beings n stop shedding blood in te name of anything. Kindness towards each other is te only solution!! Wat Faisal achieved is his own personal accomplishment. We don’t need to put a political hat on it . Wat is a civil servant going to change after all .. He wil serve his term n wil b forgotten .. Kashmir wil b a burning issue till India understands ‘ integral ‘ exists only in words .. India can never win our hearts but v won’t spill blood .. V r peaceful n waiting for justice to happen and it will .. Just a natural catastrophe is enough to crush te crusaders ..

well i think we all know what time will unfold….. F is being snappy in his reply… It is clear that he is irritated and does not want to answer or maybe he thinks he is not answerable to the ordinary kashmiri
what one can achieve is not the question here…its all about being sincere to ur conscience….its about choosing the right side… Its about being true to ur people…to ur own kind….
Being a puppet in the devils army and talking about sincerity ,healing wounds etc seems a pretty hilarious joke….
Mr f please b sincere and stop mocking a common kashmiris feelings……

Faesal saab has seen, studied and experienced both sides of the coin. Can any one of the critics here say that they have undergone the agony of losing a father to unknown people ? A pain which he experiences at every moment of existence. How can somebody know the pain of not being able to share your spell bounding success with the person who brought you into this world. If he went ahead and wrote that exam ( to become a part of the draconian state machinery as you call it) he must have seen a solution in it. An answer to solving the pains for his people.

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